60 Minutes Season 39 Episode 2 The Dust at Ground Zero, Tuesday's Children

The 39th season of the long-running news program 60 Minutes returns with an investigative report on the impact of the dust at Ground Zero years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The episode titled "The Dust at Ground Zero, Tuesday's Children" takes a closer look at the growing health concerns of first responders and survivors who breathed in the toxic air on that fateful day.

The report is led by correspondent Lesley Stahl, who speaks with Dr. Michael Crane, the Medical Director of the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Crane has been treating thousands of first responders and civilians who were exposed to the toxic dust at Ground Zero. He discusses the various respiratory illnesses and cancers that have emerged in those who were exposed to the dust, including mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Dr. Crane has been working to bring attention to these illnesses and advocating for more research to be done on the health effects of the dust exposure.

Stahl also speaks with some of the first responders who were at Ground Zero on 9/11, including Joe Zadroga, whose son James was a police officer who died from respiratory complications linked to his work at Ground Zero. Zadroga discusses his son's health struggles and the battle he waged to get his son's death recognized as a result of his exposure to the toxic dust. He recounts the uphill battle he faced when he tried to access medical care and compensation for his son's death, and the eventual passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides medical care and financial compensation to those suffering from illnesses related to the 9/11 attacks.

The episode also highlights the work of Tuesday's Children, a nonprofit organization founded in the aftermath of 9/11 to provide support and services to the children and families of those affected by the attacks. Stahl interviews Terry Sears, the Executive Director of the organization, who discusses the various programs and services they offer to help families cope with the emotional toll of the attacks. She also speaks with some of the children who were impacted by the attacks and the support they have received from Tuesday's Children.

Overall, "The Dust at Ground Zero, Tuesday's Children" sheds light on the ongoing health concerns of those who were exposed to the toxic dust at Ground Zero and the need for continued research and support for those affected by the attacks. Through interviews with medical professionals, first responders, and those impacted by the attacks, the episode highlights the ongoing impact of the 9/11 attacks on those who were there that day and the need for continued awareness and support for these individuals.